Longtime CB10 Member Ruffin Passes Away

A 32-year member of Community Board 10 passed away at the end of last month.

Robert Ruffin Sr., a South Ozone Park resident and long-time member of CB10, died on Dec. 28. He was 94 years old.

Robert Ruffin Sr.

Ruffin was heavily involved in the community and matters involving the board, according to Betty Braton, Chairwoman of CB10. He was the 2nd Vice Chairman of the board and head of its transportation committee. Ruffin was also active in veterans affairs, according to Braton. He served in the Army during World War II and was honorably discharged from the military in 1945.

Braton described him as a very nice person and whose presence will be missed on CB10.

“He was very sweet, he always had a chuckily laugh,” she said.

Ruffin was born in Fort Worth, Texas and had six siblings, four brothers and two sisters. He graduated from high school in Texas. Ruffin went back to college, after 31 years as a post-office worker, graduating with a Bachelor’s degree of Political Science from York College.

Braton said the board will vote at their next meeting for a new 2nd Vice Chairman to replace Ruffin as the bylaws call for a vote. She said they would have done that at their January meeting but they did not have a quorum. A replacement for head of the transportation committee will also be named in the future, according to Braton.